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How to save money on your vacations

We saved lots of money by not flying to Florida and the Caribbean in
high season. But today, you can find great last-minute deals online.

There are plenty of ways to get a hotel discount. (ADAM MAYERS / TORONTO STAR) | Order this photo

Thu., Jan. 27, 2011

My kids always said their friends went to the beach on winter holidays, while they went to decaying American cities. My idea of fun was driving to local hot spots like Detroit, Cleveland, Rochester, Pittsburgh and Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

We saved lots of money by not flying to Florida and the Caribbean in high season.. But today, you can find more online deals than when our sons were small.

With discounters such as Priceline and Hotwire, you can save 40 per cent or more on rooms or airline seats that would otherwise go unoccupied. LastMinuteTravel,com operates the same way.

You specify what you want, but you won't know the name of the airline or hotel until after you book -- and all sales are final. This is not to everyone's taste

If you want to go somewhere that feels more like home, check out PackLate.com, which lists last-minute bargains on vacation condo and home rentals. The closer to the check-in date you book, the better the deal.

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"We found a five-bedroom home with a pool 5 miles from Disney World for just $77.22 (U.S.) per night," says an article in Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine.

Consumer Reports reporter Tod Marks, who writes the Tightwad Tod blog, has tips on negotiating with hotels, even those close to home.

1) Haggle. A survey of readers showed that those who tried to negotiate were rewarded with a lower rate or room upgrade 80 per cent of the time.

2) Skip the toll-free booking number. Call the hotel directly and talk about room rates with a clerk. Ask about discounts and any package deals that are in effect.

3) Know the lingo. Don't assume the corporate rate is the best rate.Ask instead for the "cheapest non-refundable rate" and the price could drop (but don't commit to it if your plans could change).

4) Be loyal. If you travel often and like a particular hotel chain, ask if it has a loyalty program. By joining, you can get goodies such as free Internet, room upgrades, late checkouts or free air miles,.

Finally, use social networks. Many travel providers broadcast deals on Twitter or Facebook pages. Group buying travel sites are also popping up, such as TripAlertz.

Hotels and airlines would rather get something than nothing for unused capacity. So, if you're flexible and shop around for last-minute deals, you can slash your costs.

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